Ophthalmic apparatus

Abstract

An ophthalmic apparatus includes an irradiation optical system, an optical scanner, an optical splitting and combining unit, and a detector. The irradiation optical system includes a light source and is configured to generate measurement light using light from the light source. The optical scanner is configured to deflect the measurement light and to guide the deflected measurement light to a subject's eye. The optical splitting and combining unit is configured to guide the measurement light to the optical scanner and to generate interference light between reference light that is generated from the light from the light source and returning light of the measurement light from the subject's eye. The detector is configured to detect the returning light and the interference light via the optical splitting and combining unit.

What claimed is: 
     
       1. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:
 an irradiation optical system including a light source and configured to generate measurement light using light from the light source; 
 an optical scanner configured to deflect the measurement light and to guide the deflected measurement light to a subject's eye; 
 an optical splitting and combining unit configured to guide the measurement light to the optical scanner and to generate interference light between reference light that is generated from the light from the light source and returning light of the measurement light from the subject's eye; and 
 a detector configured to detect the returning light and the interference light via the optical splitting and combining unit, wherein 
 the irradiation optical system is configured to generate slit-shaped measurement light using the light from the light source, 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the detector using a rolling shutter method so as to acquire light receiving result of the returning light corresponding to an irradiated position of the measurement light in a measurement site of the subject's eye, 
 the irradiation optical system includes a slit with a slit-shaped aperture capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the measurement site, and an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further comprising: 
 a first movement mechanism configured to move the slit in an optical axis direction of the irradiation optical system, wherein 
 the controller is configured to control the first movement mechanism based on a dioptric power of the subject's eye. 
 
     
     
       2. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the irradiation optical system is configured to split the light from the light source into the measurement light and the reference light. 
 
     
     
       3. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 the optical splitting and combining unit includes a second optical path length changing unit arranged on an optical path of the reference light and configured to change an optical path length of the reference light. 
 
     
     
       4. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the irradiation optical system is configured to output the measurement light and the reference light by switching an optical path of the light from the light source. 
 
     
     
       5. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a light-shielding plate configured to be capable of inserting and removing from at least one optical path of the measurement light and the reference light, wherein 
 the detector is configured to detect the returning light with the light-shielding plate arranged in the at least one optical path and to detect the interference light with the light-shielding plate removed from the at least one optical path. 
 
     
     
       6. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the optical splitting and combining unit includes: 
 an optical splitter configured to split an optical path of the measurement light and an optical path of the returning light; 
 a first splitter configured to split the returning light split by the optical splitter into first returning light and second returning light; and 
 a beam combiner configured to generate interference light between the reference light and the second returning light, wherein 
 the detector is configured to detect the first returning light split by the first splitter and the interference light generated by the beam combiner. 
 
     
     
       7. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the optical splitter includes a perforated mirror with a hole that an optical axis passes through, and 
 the hole is arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye. 
 
     
     
       8. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the detector includes: 
 a first detector configured to detect the first returning light; and 
 a second detector configured to detect the interference light. 
 
     
     
       9. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein
 the optical splitting and combining unit includes a first optical path length changing unit arranged between the first splitter and the beam combiner and configured to change an optical path length of the second returning light. 
 
     
     
       10. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first image forming unit configured to form a front image of the subject's eye based on a detection result of the returning light obtained by the detector; and 
 a second image forming unit configured to form a tomographic image of the subject's eye based on a detection result of the interference light obtained by the detector. 
 
     
     
       11. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the light source includes a wavelength swept light source. 
 
     
     
       12. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the light source includes a broadband light source, and 
 the detector includes a spectrometer that disperses the interference light. 
 
     
     
       13. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second movement mechanism configured to change at least one of a position of the light source or an orientation of the light source, wherein the controller is configured to control the second movement mechanism according to the position of the slit moved by the first movement mechanism. 
     
     
       14. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiation optical system includes a first relay lens system arranged between the optical scanner and the slit, and a back focal position of the first relay lens system is a position substantially conjugate optically to the iris. 
     
     
       15. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein
 the optical scanner is arranged at the back focal position or the vicinity of the back focal position. 
 
     
     
       16. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:
 an irradiation optical system including a light source and configured to generate measurement light using light from the light source; 
 an optical scanner configured to deflect the measurement light; 
 an optical splitting and combining unit configured to guide the measurement light deflected by the optical scanner to a subject's eye and to generate interference light between reference light that is generated from the light from the light source and returning light of the measurement light from the subject's eye; and 
 a detector configured to detect the returning light and the interference light via the optical splitting and combining unit, wherein 
 the irradiation optical system is configured to generate slit-shaped measurement light using the light from the light source, 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the detector using a rolling shutter method so as to acquire light receiving result of the returning light corresponding to an irradiated position of the measurement light in a measurement site of the subject's eye, 
 the irradiation optical system includes a slit with a slit-shaped aperture capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the measurement site, and an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further comprising: 
 a first movement mechanism configured to move the slit in an optical axis direction of the irradiation optical system, wherein 
 the controller is configured to control the first movement mechanism based on a dioptric power of the subject's eye. 
 
     
     
       17. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein
 the irradiation optical system is configured to split the light from the light source into the measurement light and the reference light. 
 
     
     
       18. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein
 the irradiation optical system is configured to output the measurement light and the reference light by switching an optical path of the light from the light source. 
 
     
     
       19. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising
 a light-shielding plate configured to be capable of inserting and removing from at least one optical path of the measurement light and the reference light, wherein 
 the detector is configured to detect the returning light with the light-shielding plate arranged in the at least one optical path and to detect the interference light with the light-shielding plate removed from the at least one optical path. 
 
     
     
       20. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein
 the optical splitting and combining unit includes: 
 an optical splitter configured to split an optical path of the measurement light and an optical path of the returning light; 
 a first splitter configured to split the returning light split by the optical splitter into first returning light and second returning light; and 
 a beam combiner configured to generate interference light between the reference light and the second returning light, wherein 
 the detector is configured to detect the first returning light split by the first splitter and the interference light generated by the beam combiner. 
 
     
     
       21. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein
 the optical splitter includes a perforated mirror with a hole that an optical axis passes through, and 
 the hole is arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye. 
 
     
     
       22. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:
 an irradiation optical system including a light source and configured to generate measurement light using light from the light source; 
 an optical scanner configured to deflect the measurement light and to guide the deflected measurement light to a subject's eye; 
 an optical splitting and combining unit configured to guide the measurement light to the optical scanner and to generate interference light between reference light that is generated from the light from the light source and returning light of the measurement light from the subject's eye; and 
 a detector configured to detect the returning light and the interference light via the optical splitting and combining unit, wherein 
 the irradiation optical system is configured to generate slit-shaped measurement light using the light from the light source, 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the detector using a rolling shutter method so as to acquire light receiving result of the returning light corresponding to an irradiated position of the measurement light in a measurement site of the subject's eye, 
 the irradiation optical system includes a slit with a slit-shaped aperture capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the measurement site, and an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further comprising: 
 a second relay lens system arranged between the slit and the iris aperture, wherein 
 the iris aperture is arranged at a front focal position of the second relay lens system or the vicinity of the front focal position of the second relay lens system. 
 
     
     
       23. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:
 an irradiation optical system including a light source and configured to generate measurement light using light from the light source; 
 an optical scanner configured to deflect the measurement light and to guide the deflected measurement light to a subject's eye; 
 an optical splitting and combining unit configured to guide the measurement light to the optical scanner and to generate interference light between reference light that is generated from the light from the light source and returning light of the measurement light from the subject's eye; and 
 a detector configured to detect the returning light and the interference light via the optical splitting and combining unit, wherein 
 the irradiation optical system is configured to generate slit-shaped measurement light using the light from the light source, 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the detector using a rolling shutter method so as to acquire light receiving result of the returning light corresponding to an irradiated position of the measurement light in a measurement site of the subject's eye, 
 the irradiation optical system includes a slit with a slit-shaped aperture capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the measurement site, and an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and 
 one or more apertures that the measurement light passes through are formed in the iris aperture so that luminous flux cross section of the measurement light and luminous flux cross section of returning light from the subject's eye are separated on a cornea of the subject's eye, an anterior surface of lens of the subject's eye, and a posterior surface of lens of the subject's eye. 
 
     
     
       24. The ophthalmic apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein
 each of the one or more apertures has a circular segment shape, and 
 a direction of a chord of the circular segment shape is approximately parallel to a longitudinal direction of a slit image formed by light passing through the slit. 
 
     
     
       25. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:
 an irradiation optical system including a light source and configured to generate measurement light using light from the light source; 
 an optical scanner configured to deflect the measurement light; 
 an optical splitting and combining unit configured to guide the measurement light deflected by the optical scanner to a subject's eye and to generate interference light between reference light that is generated from the light from the light source and returning light of the measurement light from the subject's eye; and 
 a detector configured to detect the returning light and the interference light via the optical splitting and combining unit, wherein 
 the irradiation optical system is configured to generate slit-shaped measurement light using the light from the light source, 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the detector using a rolling shutter method so as to acquire light receiving result of the returning light corresponding to an irradiated position of the measurement light in a measurement site of the subject's eye, 
 the irradiation optical system includes a slit with a slit-shaped aperture capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the measurement site, and an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further comprising: 
 a second relay lens system arranged between the slit and the iris aperture, wherein 
 the iris aperture is arranged at a front focal position of the second relay lens system or the vicinity of the front focal position of the second relay lens system. 
 
     
     
       26. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:
 an irradiation optical system including a light source and configured to generate measurement light using light from the light source; 
 an optical scanner configured to deflect the measurement light; 
 an optical splitting and combining unit configured to guide the measurement light deflected by the optical scanner to a subject's eye and to generate interference light between reference light that is generated from the light from the light source and returning light of the measurement light from the subject's eye; and 
 a detector configured to detect the returning light and the interference light via the optical splitting and combining unit, wherein 
 the irradiation optical system is configured to generate slit-shaped measurement light using the light from the light source, 
 the ophthalmic apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the detector using a rolling shutter method so as to acquire light receiving result of the returning light corresponding to an irradiated position of the measurement light in a measurement site of the subject's eye, 
 the irradiation optical system includes a slit with a slit-shaped aperture capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the measurement site, and an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and 
 one or more apertures that the measurement light passes through are formed in the iris aperture so that luminous flux cross section of the measurement light and luminous flux cross section of returning light from the subject's eye are separated on a cornea of the subject's eye, an anterior surface of lens of the subject's eye, and a posterior surface of lens of the subject's eye.